According to the twisted logic recently espoused by Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, the failure to support illegal, immoral and unnecessary wars defines one as a terrorist. Let me be clear about where I stand: I know who the real terrorists are, and can name each one of them—Rumsfeld among the rest.
Everywhere you go in America you see the slogan, “Support our troops.” You see it on bumper stickers, storefronts, flags and banners, yellow ribbons and even in the windows of private homes. But what does it mean to support our troops? Is it to send them into harm’s way; to invade and occupy sovereign nations in illegal wars for empire? Is it to ask them to commit heinous crimes, to maim and to kill innocent civilians; to torture, insult, and to humiliate people who have done us no harm? Is it to steal the natural wealth that belongs to other nations and turn it over to American corporations?
If that is what it means, then I cannot support our troops. I cannot wish them well if their purpose is conquer other people, and plunder the wealth of other countries that have done us no harm. That would require me to endorse crimes against humanity conducted under the guise of national security and patriotism. I cannot do that—I will not. It is simply wrong.
Neither should we, as we so often do, confuse supporting our troops with supporting the president, or wrongful and immoral policies of corrupt government. The president and his ilk do not support our troops or he would not use them as pawns; he would take care of them when they come home broken and torn with psychic scars. He does not care about them—they are only a means to an end.
No, the best way to support our troops is to take a principled stand; to hold the moral high ground—to bring them home alive and whole. A government must not be allowed to require any of its citizens to engage in immoral or criminal behavior on its behalf. When a government behaves like a crime syndicate it does not mean that the people should follow its example—they must provide a better alternative, and refuse their allegiance to it.
So if the failure to support a government’s wrongful policies makes me a terrorist—so be it. If speaking truth to power makes one a terrorist—sign me up; move me to top of the NSA and FBI lists of suspects. Send forth the assassins with their rifles. If exposing the lies and corruption that attends power makes me a terrorist—I will proudly wear the crown and bear the cost. I will cheerfully take my place alongside other terrorists with names like Thoreau, Debs, King, Gandhi, Einstein, Zinn, and Christ.
2006-11-16 07:06:17 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No it doesn't mean that.. Period. To me it means you are a free thinking, Astute, Brave and Objective individual who is not swayed by the premise of false patriotism whilst a few feather their nests.
Keep up the good work pal.
2006-11-16 07:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
patriotic....pa-tri-ot-ic. adj. Feeling, expressing, or inspired by love for one's country. "American Heritage Dictionary"
In my opinion, if you meet the above criteria, you are patriotic, if not, you're simply not patriotic. I think that only you can honestly answer that question.
So, if upon self examination you discover that you're not patriotic, big deal. I personally am, but....big deal.
This does not make either of us sinners, last I read anyway. Nor does it make either of us traitors or a whole bunch of adjectives that could be tossed on either side of the fence.
I don't have the time, and in many instances sufficient knowledge to argue some of your points and this probably is the wrong forum anyway.
I will however conclude by saying that those troops are lawfully engaged in an occupation that that helps to insure that nations like ours, can enjoy the very same right you exercised when you posted...free speech.
That said, I support our troops, thank them, each and every one of them for their tireless efforts. I wish the all Godspeed and look forward to their safe return, as do all patriots.
As for you sir....kind regards
2006-11-16 15:40:03 · answer #2 · answered by calldrsalsa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
supporting the troops and supporting the war are two different things. Our troops had no choice but to go where they were ordered to go. When a young man or woman joins the armed forces they have no idea what our country will be involved in in the future. I totally support our troops. I don't believe in war myself, but I will pray and support every soldier that is out there doing what they have to do. We cannot treat these soldiers as we did the returning Viet Nam veterans.
2006-11-16 15:17:28 · answer #3 · answered by bramblerock 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Not one of those troops in Iraq asked to go there, but when asked to do so, I'd say very few balked at being told to go.
Support the troops. Protest the government that sent them there under false pretenses.
2006-11-16 15:15:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no it makes you misinformed and ignorant. If you don't KNOW what goes on in a war zone, then you have no right talking about it. As far as killing and torturing the innocent, you need to turn off the tv and realize how far off you really are. You've heard of maybe 2 confirmed instances via the news where soldiers have done horrible things. All of those soldiers are now up for the death penalty. My husband has served 2 tours in Iraq. He has saved more innocent civilians there then your little mind could comprehend. As for you standing beside Einstein, trust me he thinks your an idiot too, and sure Jesus loves you, but the rest of us think your an ***.
2006-11-16 15:22:29 · answer #5 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
you call yourself a proud terrorist, and yet you haven't shown any proof that you've blown up a single building, or killed even one innocent baby? that's laziness! even einstein managed to lay down the foundations for the nuke so we could cook all the citizens of hiroshima and nagasaki, and what have you done? complain about the soilders and try to lower their morale so you can encourage some militant islamists? please, that's nothing! even 51% of congress does that, and they're the laziest americans out there.
2006-11-16 15:30:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should be proud of our troops fighting and giving their lives, but not by saying that it is to protect our country. Honestly their lives are getting wested because there is no reason for them to be there. But just the fact that they are brave enough to do it.
Support the troops but not the war.
2006-11-16 15:09:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
No, it does not. You can love your country but dislike that they're fighting the war. Dislike the war, not the troops. The troops are fighting for you, but the war or the cause, that's what should be disliked in this situation.
2006-11-16 15:14:38 · answer #8 · answered by Answerer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Support the fact that people have died so that you have the freedom to speak your mind. The freedom to think and express your wrong opinion.
2006-11-16 15:16:14 · answer #9 · answered by GLSigma3 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
because you tend to take your political postion to the extreme of attacking the troops when they return home
2006-11-16 15:09:58 · answer #10 · answered by kapute2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋